Post by Luna on Jan 21, 2015 1:04:03 GMT -5
Palace of the Moon(#262RL)
Once known as the Palace of the Two Sisters, now the sole demesne of her sovereign of the night, the Princess Luna and her court, the ruins have stirred to a semblance of former splendor. Here, in the Palace of the Moon, the ponies of the night hold sway. Slowly, bulwarked walls and rebuilt ceilings are reclaiming the palace, though suspiciously mobile plants-- perhaps escapees from the brooding sharp-peaked shape of the Lunarium nearby-- still choke the ruins.
With every flag at half-mast and dark bunting fluttering at the parapets, the Palace is wearing mourning colours. A cherished member of the court, a valiant servant, and an honourable warrior has fallen in Luna's service. Today, we pay tribute to Squire Firefly, strong right hoof of the Princess.
Luna lounges on her throne, which is made of stone and is thoroughly unsuitable for lounging. On the other hoof, the Main Hall still hasn't been repaired right around the thrones, and the winter wind that flutters Luna's glittering mane is colder than Tirek's heart. If she doesn't mind that, slumping to one side against a granite cushion may not be a big deal. A particularly hard gust blows past a cardboard cutout of Fluttershy, holding a cardboard cutout of a teapot, which refills a cardboard cutout of a tea cup on a stand next to the throne. Luna ignores it. She's using the quiet to perform magical research, which involves an illusory dome of the the heavens scattered over the floor, with lines connecting the various stars to each other and to the model Equestria.
Hollyhock is begining to have second thoughts about her errand even before she sets her hooves on the stone floor of the ruined castle. The everfree is not particularly pleasant even in the best of times, and to come through alone at night has been a trial for her nerves. The sigular nature of the castle too has been more than a match for her over-wrought imaginations, with even the mild prankish occurances between the gate and the throne room playing upon her keyed up mind. Fluttershy is cute, but when a cutout springs forth from the ground covered in smiling cardboard snakes with an ad for snake repellent it's going to be a shock to the system. So it's not with the clearest mind that the little pegasus finds herself staring down the hall towards the princess of the night. She lingers there for a long moment before she moves into the room, hooves sounding against the floor before she stops, takes a breath, and speaks, "Howdy."
Luna looks up from her model, which stretches almost from wall to wall in front of her, and beckons with a hoof. While not blasting, her voice resonates everywhere in the hall. "Come closer. Make no mind of the spell, for thy touch cannot damage it. We gave the servants the night off because of the chill, but if our palace's hospitality is poor, it means no competition for an audience. Approach, and make thy claim to Equestria's ruler." With that her attention slips back to the illusionary dome, and she watches an aurora of pink seep through it, scattering the lines in new directions.
Hollyhock flattens her ears, making a sour face as she's invited closer. While it may not be blasting, the sensation of hearing the voice from everywhere at once is none-the-less unnerving, and it's a second or two before she's pulled herself together enough to obey the request. She makes no more noise than her hooves can make as she approaches - unsure if she wants to look at Luna, or at the artificial sky more. After a short internal battle it's the latter that wins, "What'cha doin'?"
The dome is quite harmless to pass through, an illusion with no sense of touch to it at all. Even the tiny mountains and other terrain on the floor prove to be nothing but images when a hoof passes through them, and reform as soon as the space is empty. Luna gives a little dip of her head, and the tip of her horn blinks purple. A purple star appears over Ponyville on the map, and the lines rearrange all over again. Her voice a touch distracted, Luna answers, "Planning the winter. The world changed when we returned, and again when the power of the Crystal Empire was restored, and still again when a fourth princess ascended by power and by friendship. There are many forces to be balanced, and they are all tied to the turn of the stars and the swell and ebb of the moon."
through the dome, pausing only to squint at that star as it appears immediately to her left. Lifting a forehoof she waves it back and forth through the illusionary projection two or three times before exhaling a soft grunt, and continuing on towards the throne, eyes tracing over the tiny land and skyscapes until she needs, once again, to look up at Luna, "I - uh. Sorry if this ain't th' best time. I was talkin' with Bardigan, an' he was sayin' if a pony needed t' talk to you you were here nights." There's just the faintest stutter in her voice as she addresses the princess, "Didn't think it was a good idear a'tall t' come, but..." Again there's a moment of hesitation before she sets her jaw and looks up again, "But I came out anyhow. Wanted t' ask somethin'."
Luna corrects immediately, "It is an excellent time. So good that we are caught in idle rumination." Blue light blazes up her horn, but it's only a quick flicker. In answer, a wave of blue washes over the dome. There's no visible effect from any of this, but now Luna straightens up on her throne, haunch planted on the stone seat, forelegs straight, and bluegreen eyes staring down with cold regality. Her mane and tail ripple in the wind, surrounding her in stars. "Ask thy question, then. We are here to serve. Such is the duty of a princess."
Hollyhock begins to begin, but hesitates before she's said anything, and looks down again as she closes her mouth, unable to meet Luna's eyes for very long. Again she makes a sour expression, her lips pressing into a tight line before she begins again, eyes focused on a point just below Luna's forehoves "My uncle says princesses ain't different from other folks 'cept they know more. 'bout the moon, stars, sun, sky, workin's of magic, all that sort'a thing. Said anypony, if they worked hard a'nough, an' studied, an' labored could raise themselves t' the rank, so t' speak." She rubs her nose with a hoof, and takes a little darting look up before begining again, "Wol, I ne'er did care one way or t'other, tell the truth. But other day I saw you an' -- an what you did with Bardigan's sister an' I thought if you knew enough t' turn a pony from a pegasus to an earth pony you'd know 'bout cutie marks, yeah? Why ponies get one mark instead've another? Wol... Wol what I was wonderin' is - has anypony e'er got one they weren't s'post t' have?"
Luna's chilly majesty warms with a faint smile as you talk about your uncle's theories, and then settles back to a detached consideration of the skinny pegasus before her. She waits a few seconds before answering, her voice completely noncommital. "No. No pony gets a cutie mark they were not supposed to have. They have gotten cutie marks they did not understand. They have gotten marks they refused to believe. Ponies have had cutie marks they did not want, or were not good for them, and marks that represented a trait they turned away from and overcame. Ponies have changed so drastically that their cutie marks changed with them. Some great magics can even alter or switch cutie marks, but setting off a bomb would be less destructive. The mark itself is never given by mistake. It reflects a pony's place in the world, our nature and our destiny. It is the power that makes us ponies and not mere beasts."
The corners of Holly's mouth twitch slightly up as she chances to see Luna's smile. Whatever the reasons for its existance, she knows it's not an expression of scorn. She's not sure what she would have done if her question had been met with derision. The smile may fade as she listens to the rest of the answer, but the warmth remains, giving her an extra measure of confidence even as she waits a long, silent moment after Luna finishes speaking, politely waiting, making sure she's not interupting when she finally speaks again, "I don't r'gret my mark. Gettin' it helped, an' let me - let me do what needed t' be done, but... But I ain't sure what t' do with it now. Reckon that's growin' in t' it? I --" Holly trails off, her expression clouding as she frowns at the flagstone under her hooves, searching for words to say and coming up blank. There's a long silence before she finally arrives at, "I guess I j'st don't see th' point. If I ain't gonna do nothin' but run errands, an' sometimes punch stuff f'r Mizz Velvet, what's th' point? I c'n wrangle storms good, sure, but that ain't exactly useful day t' day. Particular when I don't fly so good."
Hollyhock adds quickly, looking up, "N-not that I'm askin' you t' fix that. Workin' on that m'self - was j'st wondering why that, when somethin' else - something I'm good at, didn't come?"
Luna leans forward, stepping off her throne and down the steps of the little dais. She walks quietly up to Hollyhock, passing through the illusion of the world and its skies without notice to stand before the little filly. Compared to Luna, Hollyhock IS a little filly. Taller than the tallest stallion, if not a giant beyond pony size like her sister, Luna looms above Hollyhock and can easily extend a wing to lay it on the pegasus's mane. The impassive expression on her regally sharp and elegant face remains, but her voice has turned gentle and motherly. "This is a struggle of the young, that depends on simple labels and expects simple rules. There is no mistake in thy cutie mark or thy talent, but THINE is the will that sets it in motion." Lowering her face so her eyes are almost level with the smaller pony's, she asks more lightly, "Have thou met the dressmaker in Ponyville? She bore the Element of Generosity, as we did ourself, once. Her cutie mark is not dresses. It is diamonds, a curse of greed and hunger for gems. She is a dressmaker by choice, and has turned her curse into a blessing. In so doing she both shaped and achieved her destiny."
Hollyhock scrunchyfaces as her hooves as soon as she's done talking. It all sounds so trite when she says it. She walks in on Luna planning winter and here she comes with another whined 'why me' story. Only dimly aware of Luna's movement, she's ready to appoligise, to look up, excuse herself and her imposition, and flee back into the woods without any more being said in an attempt to retain what little of her dignity she retains, but when she looks up Luna is Right. There. And that's a shock to anypony's system. Holly flinches away from the sudden presence, and ducks ever so slightly away from that wing, taking a series of deep breaths before she trusts herself to speak, "I ain't e'er met her, no. M' friend was gonna get a weddin' dress from her but..." She waves the rest away with a hoof. That's not important just now. Instead she looks up at Luna, her eyes big as she meets the Princess' gaze, "So - so what should I do? Miss Dash told me 'bout these flyin' classes in Cloudsdale, an' I'm gettin' better, but donno if - if I'm good e'nough f'r weather duty. Should I - I keep doin' that, or - or do somethin' else?"
Luna is an armored, impossibly tall amazon with wings and horn too long for regular ponies, and a tendency to stand as still as a statue. She *is* a little bit scary up close. Her wing folds up by her side again, and she goes back to staring with those aquamarine, almond-shaped princess eyes. Hollyhock's answer comes in clipped sentences. "Follow thy heart. Not thy feelings, but what would make thee love thyself. Do not chase thy cutie mark. It is going nowhere. Thy talent and thy destiny will shape themselves to THEE."
Hollyhock curls the corners her her mouth down into a thoughtful frown, her eyes narrowing just a touch as she listens, ears twitching with each full stop. After that final word she nods twice. Once to herself, then once more, more firmly as she looks up to meet the princess' gaze again, to show Luna that she understands - after a fashion anyway, "Reckon I can do that. 's what brought me here. Figger I c'n keep chasin' that a mite longer."
Luna says, "As long as it takes." Then she turns around and climbs back up the dais to her ancient granite throne, slumping into it again with one foreleg draped over the chair's arm. The other waves vaguely, and snow begins to fall inside the illusionary sky dome.
Hollyhock grunts quietly in agreement, "'til it's done." There's another nod before she looks up at the falling snow and cracks a smile, it's small, but real, lighting her eyes. She's content to stand there for a long moment in silence,letting the illusionary snow fall around her before she takes another darting glance towards the throne, "Thanks."
"Wir gehen unter! SUCHEN SIE EINEN WEG!!" Wait what? Never the less, A voice shrieks out from out of nowhere, followed by a streak of silver and a resounding CRUCH, leaving a mangled little filly crumpled on the floor in the middle of the throne room. You've got to hand it to Diamond- her aim has been getting significantly better. She managed to sling herself straight through the opening holes in the roof without clipping on any of the edges. She lays there for a few seconds, before her crumpled form unfolds onto her back, and she gives a slow salute. "Night Errant reporting in, You'se Ebony-ness. No updates on da Wumpus hunt. I will keep you'se posted."
<OOC> You say, "Okay, that was the awesome and perfect scene ending pose."
<OOC> You say, "We will stop exactly there."
Once known as the Palace of the Two Sisters, now the sole demesne of her sovereign of the night, the Princess Luna and her court, the ruins have stirred to a semblance of former splendor. Here, in the Palace of the Moon, the ponies of the night hold sway. Slowly, bulwarked walls and rebuilt ceilings are reclaiming the palace, though suspiciously mobile plants-- perhaps escapees from the brooding sharp-peaked shape of the Lunarium nearby-- still choke the ruins.
With every flag at half-mast and dark bunting fluttering at the parapets, the Palace is wearing mourning colours. A cherished member of the court, a valiant servant, and an honourable warrior has fallen in Luna's service. Today, we pay tribute to Squire Firefly, strong right hoof of the Princess.
Luna lounges on her throne, which is made of stone and is thoroughly unsuitable for lounging. On the other hoof, the Main Hall still hasn't been repaired right around the thrones, and the winter wind that flutters Luna's glittering mane is colder than Tirek's heart. If she doesn't mind that, slumping to one side against a granite cushion may not be a big deal. A particularly hard gust blows past a cardboard cutout of Fluttershy, holding a cardboard cutout of a teapot, which refills a cardboard cutout of a tea cup on a stand next to the throne. Luna ignores it. She's using the quiet to perform magical research, which involves an illusory dome of the the heavens scattered over the floor, with lines connecting the various stars to each other and to the model Equestria.
Hollyhock is begining to have second thoughts about her errand even before she sets her hooves on the stone floor of the ruined castle. The everfree is not particularly pleasant even in the best of times, and to come through alone at night has been a trial for her nerves. The sigular nature of the castle too has been more than a match for her over-wrought imaginations, with even the mild prankish occurances between the gate and the throne room playing upon her keyed up mind. Fluttershy is cute, but when a cutout springs forth from the ground covered in smiling cardboard snakes with an ad for snake repellent it's going to be a shock to the system. So it's not with the clearest mind that the little pegasus finds herself staring down the hall towards the princess of the night. She lingers there for a long moment before she moves into the room, hooves sounding against the floor before she stops, takes a breath, and speaks, "Howdy."
Luna looks up from her model, which stretches almost from wall to wall in front of her, and beckons with a hoof. While not blasting, her voice resonates everywhere in the hall. "Come closer. Make no mind of the spell, for thy touch cannot damage it. We gave the servants the night off because of the chill, but if our palace's hospitality is poor, it means no competition for an audience. Approach, and make thy claim to Equestria's ruler." With that her attention slips back to the illusionary dome, and she watches an aurora of pink seep through it, scattering the lines in new directions.
Hollyhock flattens her ears, making a sour face as she's invited closer. While it may not be blasting, the sensation of hearing the voice from everywhere at once is none-the-less unnerving, and it's a second or two before she's pulled herself together enough to obey the request. She makes no more noise than her hooves can make as she approaches - unsure if she wants to look at Luna, or at the artificial sky more. After a short internal battle it's the latter that wins, "What'cha doin'?"
The dome is quite harmless to pass through, an illusion with no sense of touch to it at all. Even the tiny mountains and other terrain on the floor prove to be nothing but images when a hoof passes through them, and reform as soon as the space is empty. Luna gives a little dip of her head, and the tip of her horn blinks purple. A purple star appears over Ponyville on the map, and the lines rearrange all over again. Her voice a touch distracted, Luna answers, "Planning the winter. The world changed when we returned, and again when the power of the Crystal Empire was restored, and still again when a fourth princess ascended by power and by friendship. There are many forces to be balanced, and they are all tied to the turn of the stars and the swell and ebb of the moon."
through the dome, pausing only to squint at that star as it appears immediately to her left. Lifting a forehoof she waves it back and forth through the illusionary projection two or three times before exhaling a soft grunt, and continuing on towards the throne, eyes tracing over the tiny land and skyscapes until she needs, once again, to look up at Luna, "I - uh. Sorry if this ain't th' best time. I was talkin' with Bardigan, an' he was sayin' if a pony needed t' talk to you you were here nights." There's just the faintest stutter in her voice as she addresses the princess, "Didn't think it was a good idear a'tall t' come, but..." Again there's a moment of hesitation before she sets her jaw and looks up again, "But I came out anyhow. Wanted t' ask somethin'."
Luna corrects immediately, "It is an excellent time. So good that we are caught in idle rumination." Blue light blazes up her horn, but it's only a quick flicker. In answer, a wave of blue washes over the dome. There's no visible effect from any of this, but now Luna straightens up on her throne, haunch planted on the stone seat, forelegs straight, and bluegreen eyes staring down with cold regality. Her mane and tail ripple in the wind, surrounding her in stars. "Ask thy question, then. We are here to serve. Such is the duty of a princess."
Hollyhock begins to begin, but hesitates before she's said anything, and looks down again as she closes her mouth, unable to meet Luna's eyes for very long. Again she makes a sour expression, her lips pressing into a tight line before she begins again, eyes focused on a point just below Luna's forehoves "My uncle says princesses ain't different from other folks 'cept they know more. 'bout the moon, stars, sun, sky, workin's of magic, all that sort'a thing. Said anypony, if they worked hard a'nough, an' studied, an' labored could raise themselves t' the rank, so t' speak." She rubs her nose with a hoof, and takes a little darting look up before begining again, "Wol, I ne'er did care one way or t'other, tell the truth. But other day I saw you an' -- an what you did with Bardigan's sister an' I thought if you knew enough t' turn a pony from a pegasus to an earth pony you'd know 'bout cutie marks, yeah? Why ponies get one mark instead've another? Wol... Wol what I was wonderin' is - has anypony e'er got one they weren't s'post t' have?"
Luna's chilly majesty warms with a faint smile as you talk about your uncle's theories, and then settles back to a detached consideration of the skinny pegasus before her. She waits a few seconds before answering, her voice completely noncommital. "No. No pony gets a cutie mark they were not supposed to have. They have gotten cutie marks they did not understand. They have gotten marks they refused to believe. Ponies have had cutie marks they did not want, or were not good for them, and marks that represented a trait they turned away from and overcame. Ponies have changed so drastically that their cutie marks changed with them. Some great magics can even alter or switch cutie marks, but setting off a bomb would be less destructive. The mark itself is never given by mistake. It reflects a pony's place in the world, our nature and our destiny. It is the power that makes us ponies and not mere beasts."
The corners of Holly's mouth twitch slightly up as she chances to see Luna's smile. Whatever the reasons for its existance, she knows it's not an expression of scorn. She's not sure what she would have done if her question had been met with derision. The smile may fade as she listens to the rest of the answer, but the warmth remains, giving her an extra measure of confidence even as she waits a long, silent moment after Luna finishes speaking, politely waiting, making sure she's not interupting when she finally speaks again, "I don't r'gret my mark. Gettin' it helped, an' let me - let me do what needed t' be done, but... But I ain't sure what t' do with it now. Reckon that's growin' in t' it? I --" Holly trails off, her expression clouding as she frowns at the flagstone under her hooves, searching for words to say and coming up blank. There's a long silence before she finally arrives at, "I guess I j'st don't see th' point. If I ain't gonna do nothin' but run errands, an' sometimes punch stuff f'r Mizz Velvet, what's th' point? I c'n wrangle storms good, sure, but that ain't exactly useful day t' day. Particular when I don't fly so good."
Hollyhock adds quickly, looking up, "N-not that I'm askin' you t' fix that. Workin' on that m'self - was j'st wondering why that, when somethin' else - something I'm good at, didn't come?"
Luna leans forward, stepping off her throne and down the steps of the little dais. She walks quietly up to Hollyhock, passing through the illusion of the world and its skies without notice to stand before the little filly. Compared to Luna, Hollyhock IS a little filly. Taller than the tallest stallion, if not a giant beyond pony size like her sister, Luna looms above Hollyhock and can easily extend a wing to lay it on the pegasus's mane. The impassive expression on her regally sharp and elegant face remains, but her voice has turned gentle and motherly. "This is a struggle of the young, that depends on simple labels and expects simple rules. There is no mistake in thy cutie mark or thy talent, but THINE is the will that sets it in motion." Lowering her face so her eyes are almost level with the smaller pony's, she asks more lightly, "Have thou met the dressmaker in Ponyville? She bore the Element of Generosity, as we did ourself, once. Her cutie mark is not dresses. It is diamonds, a curse of greed and hunger for gems. She is a dressmaker by choice, and has turned her curse into a blessing. In so doing she both shaped and achieved her destiny."
Hollyhock scrunchyfaces as her hooves as soon as she's done talking. It all sounds so trite when she says it. She walks in on Luna planning winter and here she comes with another whined 'why me' story. Only dimly aware of Luna's movement, she's ready to appoligise, to look up, excuse herself and her imposition, and flee back into the woods without any more being said in an attempt to retain what little of her dignity she retains, but when she looks up Luna is Right. There. And that's a shock to anypony's system. Holly flinches away from the sudden presence, and ducks ever so slightly away from that wing, taking a series of deep breaths before she trusts herself to speak, "I ain't e'er met her, no. M' friend was gonna get a weddin' dress from her but..." She waves the rest away with a hoof. That's not important just now. Instead she looks up at Luna, her eyes big as she meets the Princess' gaze, "So - so what should I do? Miss Dash told me 'bout these flyin' classes in Cloudsdale, an' I'm gettin' better, but donno if - if I'm good e'nough f'r weather duty. Should I - I keep doin' that, or - or do somethin' else?"
Luna is an armored, impossibly tall amazon with wings and horn too long for regular ponies, and a tendency to stand as still as a statue. She *is* a little bit scary up close. Her wing folds up by her side again, and she goes back to staring with those aquamarine, almond-shaped princess eyes. Hollyhock's answer comes in clipped sentences. "Follow thy heart. Not thy feelings, but what would make thee love thyself. Do not chase thy cutie mark. It is going nowhere. Thy talent and thy destiny will shape themselves to THEE."
Hollyhock curls the corners her her mouth down into a thoughtful frown, her eyes narrowing just a touch as she listens, ears twitching with each full stop. After that final word she nods twice. Once to herself, then once more, more firmly as she looks up to meet the princess' gaze again, to show Luna that she understands - after a fashion anyway, "Reckon I can do that. 's what brought me here. Figger I c'n keep chasin' that a mite longer."
Luna says, "As long as it takes." Then she turns around and climbs back up the dais to her ancient granite throne, slumping into it again with one foreleg draped over the chair's arm. The other waves vaguely, and snow begins to fall inside the illusionary sky dome.
Hollyhock grunts quietly in agreement, "'til it's done." There's another nod before she looks up at the falling snow and cracks a smile, it's small, but real, lighting her eyes. She's content to stand there for a long moment in silence,letting the illusionary snow fall around her before she takes another darting glance towards the throne, "Thanks."
"Wir gehen unter! SUCHEN SIE EINEN WEG!!" Wait what? Never the less, A voice shrieks out from out of nowhere, followed by a streak of silver and a resounding CRUCH, leaving a mangled little filly crumpled on the floor in the middle of the throne room. You've got to hand it to Diamond- her aim has been getting significantly better. She managed to sling herself straight through the opening holes in the roof without clipping on any of the edges. She lays there for a few seconds, before her crumpled form unfolds onto her back, and she gives a slow salute. "Night Errant reporting in, You'se Ebony-ness. No updates on da Wumpus hunt. I will keep you'se posted."
<OOC> You say, "Okay, that was the awesome and perfect scene ending pose."
<OOC> You say, "We will stop exactly there."